Page 122 of Her Dark Promise

I opened my eyes. It was bright enough that I could make out my room. It took all of my energy to turn my head and hiss as I sawBastian cutting my arm with the same blade that he threw into the pond. My eyes went to his face, but he wasn’t even looking at me, concentrating on his task.

Good. Then he wouldn’t see the pain coming. I dug deep into my body, calling for my powers, but the well was empty. I blanched at the realization, dug deeper trying to find a scrap of it, and came up empty again.

“I told them all to go bathe and change. That was a while ago, so I am sure that they will be back any moment.”

“And you?”

“And me what?”

“Are you going to bathe?” I made a show of sniffing him. “You smell foul.”

He scoffed. “That tongue is as sharp as ever.”

“My wit is the least of your worries.”

He was silent for another few moments before asking, “Still thinking about killing yourself.” He said it more like a statement, already aware of my answer. I loathed how well he knew me.

I narrowed my eyes. “When my powers come back, I will kill you.”

“As you have already declared, but thankfully, you aren’t healed yet. Thus, the murdering and torture will have to wait, and from my calculations, we have about twenty-four hours until that happens.” Then he smirked and waved the blade in front of my face. “Unless I cut you with this blade.” He sighed. “You have no idea how long I had to hold my breath to get it.” He threw the blade up in the air and caught it.

This was all a joke to him.

I gritted my teeth. “Ihateyou.”

He just widened his mouth and gave me a smile that only Soren had given me so far. “Say it again. I rather missed your voice.”

If only I could move… I would end him in the most unique of ways.

“Why are you still here?”

He adjusted the blade into a sheath that he situated along his hip and then looked back at me. The easygoing smile was gone, replaced by his usual serious expression; only now, instead of hatred lining his features, he simply looked sad. No, ‘devastated’ would be a better word.

“You had a dream.”

I raised an eyebrow at him, curious why the sudden change of topic.“A dream?”

Bast nodded. “You woke up and were speaking to your family and—” He paused as if uncomfortable saying the next part. “Circe. You called Emilia ‘Circe’.”

I stilled. “What exactly was said?”

He cleared his throat and said, “You told your parents and sister that you missed them. Then you started talking to Circe and telling her that you were sorry and that you would do anything to change what had happened. And then—”

“Enough,” I whispered, feeling the pain return to my chest.

They all bore witness. All saw me in such a state, and watched me begherto forgive me! That was the most absurd part.

“Emilia did say that Belladonna poisoning can cause hallucinations. You haven’t been harmed by the blade in almost a week, so it should be completely out of your system by now. You can rest easy.”

My head throbbed, and my breath came out in rapid succession.

Awe. You dreamed about me, Callie? I’m touched.

I stilled. Circe always reappeared, yet I couldn’t help getting my hopes up each time she was gone for an extended period of time.

“Get out!” I screamed.

I didn’t need Circe’s opinions, and I definitely didn’t need Bastian to stay true to his word and never leave my side again.

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